BHA Residents Find Success in the Construction Trades

Four inspiring stories from former and current BHA residents

Building Pathways, a six-week pre-apprenticeship program, has helped many of Boston Housing Authority (BHA) residents better their lives. This program prepares participants for a career in the building and construction trades and is open to all BHA residents and City of Boston residents who meet Section 3 requirements for low and very-low income households. Participants of this program receive coordinated case management and job placement services, along with classroom training and hands-on learning. Each student is introduced to a mix of trades and is eventually placed where they fit best after graduating.

One common term used by residents to describe their situations before joining this program was “struggle.” Many of them were in a constant cycle of trying to survive. They were living day to day with uncertainty of what was to come next for them. They were not thriving or moving forward. It was only when they started Building Pathways, with help from BHA’s Sec 3 Coordinator, Azell Martin, that their lives began to change. Here are some of their stories:

Riccardo M. Knight, a former Bromley-Heath resident, used to live his life pay check to pay check, not knowing what his next move was. He worked different jobs and tried his best to make it through each day. It wasn’t until a Building Pathways flyer, taped on the wall in his apartment building, caught Knight’s attention, that he looked into the program and reconsidered what his life could become. He was nervous at first, not having done anything like this before, but ended up only wanting to succeed. According to Knight, he not only learned about the different trades, but he also learned skills, such as interviewing and communicating, that have prepared him for new opportunities and will stay with him throughout his life. Knight graduated from the program and is currently a member of the city’s laborers’ union. He no longer feels that he is struggling financially or emotionally. Right now he rents an apartment, but is looking to purchase his first house soon. In the future, he wants to continue to help others that are in the situation he was in and recommends this program to anyone who is looking to take a step forward.

Riccardo M. Knight

Elka Gibbons, a BHA Section 8 recipient, heard about Building Pathways in her housing recertification packet. After seeing and hearing about the program over and over, she did online research to learn more about it. Gibbons is a mother of three and was working part time, struggling to get by. Though she was interested in the program, it wasn’t until there was a massive fire at her home that she decided to enroll herself. She loved the program because it introduced her to a variety of opportunities and taught her new skills that she was able to use in different fields. Gibbons graduated from the program and is currently in the city’s carpenters’ union. She feels very comfortable in the trade she chose and finds the work very addictive. Her goal is to keep moving forward to support her family and hopes to see more women going through this program to enter the trades.

Elka Gibbons

Tyiesha Thompson, a current Old Colony resident, is a mother of three who was looking for work that would not only help her, but would also teach her. She, along with many others, came across a Building Pathways flyer and became curious. Thompson was familiar with a woman that was already in the construction industry, who essentially convinced her to sign up and get involved. She loved the program because she felt as though she was learning so much as she was getting paid. She is currently in the city’s insulators’ union and is very happy going to work every day. She likes that the field is fair and everyone is learning and progressing at the same speed. Eventually, she would like to move on and use her skills to teach others and give back. For a start, she recommends that anyone trying to get on their feet should go through this program.

Tyiesha Thompson

Benjamin Wheeler, a former Old Colony Resident, tried for many years to persevere and change his routine of moving jobs and struggling on and off. Though not part of the Building Pathways program, Wheeler worked closely with Azell Martin to achieve his goals and get into a construction trade, so that he would no longer have to worry about his future. He attended the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology and tried for 5 years before he was accepted into the city’s electricians’ union. Wheeler has been in this union for over 6 years and is now a licensed electrician. He has recently become engaged and is looking into purchasing a house with his future wife. He strongly believes that people should not give up on themselves no matter how many times they get knocked down, because eventually things will come together.

Benjamin Wheeler

For questions, or to learn more about Building Pathways, please visit https://buildingpathwaysboston.org/